Georgia calls Swiss mediators’ offer compromise proposal

October 27, 2011, 23:48 UTC+3An offer of Swiss mediators paving the way for Russia’s accession to the WTO is the result of a compromise, Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister told

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LONDON, October 27 (Itar-Tass) — An offer of Swiss mediators paving the way for Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation is the result of a compromise, Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kapanadze told Reuters on Thursday.

According to the news agency, the proposal provides for the electronic exchange of trade data and international monitoring of trade between Georgia and Russia across the Abkhaz and South Ossetian sections of the state border.

“If Russia accepts this proposal, it will become a WTO member… there is nothing unacceptable for Russia in this proposal,” said Kapanadze, who represents the Georgian delegation at Georgian-Russian talks on Russia’s WTO accession in Switzerland.

He said the new proposal has a neutral status, explaining that it says nothing about the political status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, recognized by Russia as independent states and considered by Georgia as its regions.

He said it is the last offer, which will not be changed, and the decision rests with Russia. Meanwhile, Russia’s chief negotiator, chief of the trade negotiations department at the Ministry of Economic Development, Maxim Medvedkov, told Itar-Tass that Russia will need several days to study the proposal Switzerland made at the Russian-Georgian talks on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization,

"In order to develop a position, we shall need a few days. We will be able to give an answer next week," he said. "The date of negotiations is not defined yet, but maybe they will take place next week," he added.